An innovative competition aims to encourage Welsh children to set out their vision for the capital.
Children in Cardiff are being encouraged to redesign their city through Minecraft and envision what their future could be.
Cardiff Council and University have teamed up to create a competition called “Craft My City” where children can redesign a space using Minecraft. Through this campaign, they are hoping to encourage them to take part in city life, as well as think more sustainably.
“It’s really refreshing to see decision-makers wanting to talk to the future generations,” said Susan Monkton, the project coordinator. “I think it’s quite hopeful that we have this in Cardiff. That it will maybe mean that the leaders of tomorrow, the leaders of 20 years time, will have had a say in how their city looks.”
Becky is a mother whose two children play Minecraft. She also aims to be as sustainable as possible by teaching her children how to care for the environment.
She said: “We always celebrate living where we do: appreciating the green spaces, the castle, and the museum, so they are aware of their surroundings. I think it’s so important for children to be involved and have a say in as many things as possible. So for me, this absolutely extends to where they live.”
For this competition, children are asked to redesign the area between the National Museum Cardiff and the Cardiff University Main Building. They are provided with a code to enter the ‘world’, or the area they’re asked to improve. In this world, they can design the space as they please; whether it be a rollercoaster, an ice rink, or a garden.
This initiative is aimed at school-aged children, to help them share and explore their creativity. But it’s also a way to focus on preserving and promoting green spaces. By the end of this, the winners will win prizes that are yet to be confirmed. But most importantly, a space that may be designed after their creativity and imagination.
This competition came about from Cardiff’s initiative to be a UNICEF-certified Child-Friendly City by Autumn 2021.
Sarah Merry is the cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skill for Cathays. She has been an active member of this campaign, hoping to bring Cardiff closer to the Child Friendly City status.
She said: “We are committed to building on this and this latest scheme endeavours to engage with children and young people allowing them to express their ideas to improve an area in the city centre through a platform they are familiar with.”
The competition runs for 4 weeks and ends on Friday the 26th of February at 5 pm. The results will be announced on the 5th of March.
